--Comex December copper recently trades down 2.5 c

--Comex December copper recently trades down 2.5 cents, or 0.7%, at $3.504 a pound
--ECB cuts growth forecasts for 2012, 2013, weighing on copper demand expectations
--Futures settled at six-week high on Wednesday on expectation of ECB stimulus

NEW YORK--Copper futures pulled back on Thursday as the European Central Bank cut its growth outlook for the currency bloc, curbing demand expectations for the industrial metal.

The ECB expects gross-domestic product in the euro zone to contract at a rate of between 0.2% and 0.6% this year, slightly lower than the bank's previous forecast. For 2013, the ECB now sees a possibility that the currency union's economy will shrink. It forecasts a range of a contraction of 0.4% to growth of 1.4%.

Copper for December delivery, the most actively traded contract, was recently down 2.5 cents, or 0.7%, at $3.504 a pound on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Futures had settled at the highest price in more than six weeks on Wednesday on expectations that the ECB would announce efforts to shore up the debt markets of some weaker EU members. ECB chief Mario Draghi did outline a bond-buying program as expected on Thursday, but the bank's gloomy growth outlook dampened enthusiasm in industrial metals.

Copper is widely used in construction and manufacturing, making prices sensitive to shifts in the growth outlook. The European Union is the second largest copper consumer behind China.

"One would think any good news has already been baked into prices so we may see a pullback," traders with RBC Capital Markets said in a note.

Through Wednesday, Comex copper had gained for three consecutive sessions.

-Write to Matt Day at matt.day@dowjones.com

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09-06-12 0933ET
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